Joint Statement Regarding Recent Shooting Incidents

September 12, 2017

UPDATE: The Cambridge Police Department have made an arrest of a suspect wanted in conjunction with Sunday evening’s non-fatal gun shots incident in the River Street area. Lamaree Wallace, 20, from 1850 Washington Street in Boston, was arrested this morning by the Cambridge Police and will face multiple charges, including firearm offenses, Possession to Distribute a Class D Drug, and other potential charges.

After a thorough investigation, the Cambridge Police were able to identify Wallace as one of the suspects wanted in relation to Sunday’s shooting. Wallace and another male were seen walking in the area of William Street earlier this morning. Upon seeing Wallace and the other party, officers approached and took Wallace into custody. The Cambridge Police also arrested the other party -- Frantz Teneus, 21, 90 North Hampton Street in Boston -- for Possession to Distribute a Class D Drug.

“I am real proud of the professional and around-the-clock investigation conducted by our officers and the cooperation we received from our residents,” said Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard. “As a result of this invaluable teamwork, we were able to apprehend and take a dangerous suspect off of our streets. We still have more work to do, but these arrests speak to the progress that has been made by our hard-working officers, who are fully committed to resolving the recent spate of violence in our community.”

While an arrest has been made, the Cambridge Police is still seeking to identify an additional suspect(s) connected to Sunday’s River Street shooting incident, as well as suspects affiliated with a separate, non-fatal River Street area shooting that took place on Tuesday, September 5. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Cambridge Police Department at 617-349-3300, submit anonymous tips by texting Tip411 (847411) - begin your message with Tip650 and then type your message - or e-mail via the Cambridge Police MyPD app or www.cambridgepolice.org/tips.

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The Mayor, City Manager and Police Commissioner wanted to let residents know that the recent violence that has occurred in the Cambridgeport and Riverside neighborhoods is of the deepest concern and the highest priority for the Cambridge Police Department and the City of Cambridge. We have collectively met and discussed these incidents and the necessary response in great detail.

To ensure everyone is aware of the context, there have been two separate shooting incidents in the last week. The first occurred on Tuesday, September 5 at approximately 10:46 a.m. in the area of River Street and Auburn Street. As a result of this incident, two young males in their 20s sustained non-life threatening injuries. An arrest was made in connection with this incident, but police are still seeking the suspect – reportedly a black male in his 20s seen fleeing on a white bicycle -- responsible for what officers believe was a targeted shooting. The second incident occurred on Sunday, September 10 in the area of River Street and William/Cottage Street at approximately 5:19 p.m. following a shooting incident at the Cambridge Carnival. While no injuries were reported, multiple shots were fired and property damage resulted from this incident. Witnesses reported groups of young men – believed to be in their 20s – running from the scene of the shootings, which are also believed to be targeted. A firearm, ballistic evidence and a vehicle was all recovered from this particular incident.

It is not believed that Tuesday and Sundays incidents are related. However, police believe that Sunday’s Cambridge Carnival and the River Street shootings are connected.

A comprehensive officer deployment strategy has been implemented in the broader River Street area while these incidents are actively being investigated. Beginning on Tuesday, September 12, the Cambridge Police will be deploying a “mobile command post,” which will serve as a mobile police station that will enable localized service and response within these neighborhoods. A number of officers, including those riding bicycles and walking the streets, will report out of the command post while the investigation continues. This strategy supplements directed patrols and officers in our Traffic Enforcement, Special Investigations, and Criminal Investigations Units who are frequenting the area in a uniformed or undercover capacity.

In addition to distributing neighborhood notices about these incidents to residents in the affected areas, officers with the Cambridge Police Department conducted door-to-door outreach the night of last Tuesday’s shooting, explaining what had occurred, addressing any questions and seeking any additional information. This Wednesday, city officials and representatives from the Cambridge Police Department will host a Neighborhood Sergeants Meeting at the Morse School starting at 7:30 p.m. This meeting will give residents an opportunity to hear from officers who are conducting the active investigations, learn more about the department’s officer deployment plans in these neighborhoods, and address any questions or concerns they may have.

We hope to see many of you at Wednesday night’s meeting. In the interim, if you have any questions or concerns, we encourage that you directly contact any one of us or the Cambridge Police Department at pio@cambridgepolice.org.